Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised concerns over what he described as the steady erosion of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the country is slipping into a “one-party dictatorship” under the current administration.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle to commemorate June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Atiku reflected on the events of 1993 and the sacrifices made by many Nigerians in the fight for democratic rule.
“Thirty-two years ago, Nigeria stood on the cusp of greatness. The winds of democratic change were sweeping through Africa… it was a moment of great promise and great sacrifice,” he wrote.
Atiku recalled his decision to step down for the late Chief MKO Abiola during the 1993 presidential election, citing it as a personal sacrifice for national unity.
He also paid tribute to other democracy heroes such as Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Alfred Rewane, who, according to him, “gave their lives in pursuit of a freer Nigeria.”
However, the former vice president expressed dismay at what he termed a betrayal of the democratic ideals symbolised by June 12.
He accused the ruling party and the federal government of running the country with “the unmistakable intent to dominate, subdue, and silence,” and warned that the current situation is “not governance, it is conquest.”
Atiku alleged that opposition voices are being suppressed and that government contracts are being awarded to associates of the president.
He also criticised the renaming of national institutions after the president, suggesting it reflects an attempt to privatise the state.
Describing the situation as “the lowest ebb in our democratic journey,” Atiku called on Nigerians to rise in defence of democracy.
He said ongoing efforts to build a united opposition front are aimed at safeguarding the legacy of June 12 and resisting what he called authoritarianism adding, “This is not just a political contest; it is a moral crusade,” he said. “The time to rise is now.”
June 12 marks the anniversary of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll, which was later annulled by the military regime headed by General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
